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Reesink helps Royal St George’s

May 10, 2021/in News, Press Release/by Rosie Duckworth

Reesink helps Royal St George’s: Having begun its long relationship with Toro with a fleet deal in 2013, Royal St George’s Golf Club in Kent has continued to trust in the brand, becoming a Toro Total Solutions customer with the installation of new irrigation in 2018 and leasing further machinery in 2019. And the club, […]

Greens transformed with Suståne programme

May 7, 2021/in News, Press Release/by Louise Challiss

Greens transformed with Suståne programme: 16 bowling greens across Hampshire and South Dorset have undergone a huge transformation thanks to new maintenance contractor Paul Wright and his organic approach to turf nutrition. Utilising a range of products from across the Suståne portfolio, some of the greens are now 100% organic, and the remainder are not […]

Reesink helps Royal St George’s

May 10, 2021/in News, Press Release/by Rosie Duckworth

Greens transformed with Suståne programme

May 7, 2021/in News, Press Release/by Louise Challiss

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Reesink helps Royal St George’s

May 10, 2021/in News, Press Release/by Rosie Duckworth

Reesink helps Royal St George’s: Having begun its long relationship with Toro with a fleet deal in 2013, Royal St George’s Golf Club in Kent has continued to trust in the brand, becoming a Toro Total Solutions customer with the installation of new irrigation in 2018 and leasing further machinery in 2019.

And the club, which consistently ranks among the top courses in the world and is the host of The Open this year, has had its faith in the brand pay off, particularly when it comes to Toro irrigation which has helped the course navigate a series of droughts in the last three years.

Reesink helps Royal St George’s

Course manager Paul Larsen explains: “We’ve had nothing but drought since the new irrigation system was installed in 2018, so it’s been very hard work to keep the standard of the course high, and Toro has been instrumental in helping us through that.

“We had Toro Lynx Central Control System and over a thousand sprinklers installed across the greens, tees and fairways in 2018. The flexibility of the sprinklers and precision of Lynx control has meant that we’ve been able to target our irrigation to the surfaces that needed it most and conserve water through a series of very dry and hot summers.”

It’s this precision, brought about by Toro’s technological innovation, that was the main reason for the upgrade in 2018. “We wanted to get to the next level with our irrigation, so that meant getting a system on board that utilised innovative technology,” says Paul. “Being able to control water in millimetres with Lynx control is ideal, and the ability to change the trajectory on the sprinkler heads from 15 to 25 degrees depending on the wind is also fantastic.

“Since the new irrigation installation, we’ve expanded on our greens and we’ve been trying to grow back in turf on the fairways which had suffered from drought, so although we’re using more water than before, there would be a lot more wastage if we were still using our old system. Plus, we’ve now created our own reservoir to help with the need for extra water, so we can avoid using mains water and be more sustainable.”

And with The Open now looming, it’s testament to the quality of course maintenance that Royal St George’s employs that getting the course ready is “business as usual”.

“We haven’t changed how we maintain the course in the run up to The Open because we are always maintaining it to the highest standards for our members,” says Paul. “With the irrigation, we have set moisture levels that we want to achieve throughout the year, and with Toro we can see how close we are to those levels and apply the correct amount of irrigation in the right places to achieve that.”

Although the quality of Toro products has certainly played a part in the excellent maintenance of the course, the backup, training and support from Reesink Turfcare has done so as well.

“Reesink has been brilliant throughout the whole process,” says Paul. “I find that it’s easier to learn a product and get the most out of it when you’re dealing with the right people – and that’s certainly Robert Jackson from Reesink. On the rare occasions we’ve had an issue, he’s been able to find a solution, and the training we’ve had on the irrigation system has been superb.

“In fact, the training has meant that we have become self-sufficient and can now carry out small projects and adjustments ourselves, for example adding extra sprinklers to some of the walkways. And it’s no different with the machinery backup as well. It’s all excellent,” concludes Paul.

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Greens transformed with Suståne programme

May 7, 2021/in News, Press Release/by Louise Challiss

Greens transformed with Suståne programme: 16 bowling greens across Hampshire and South Dorset have undergone a huge transformation thanks to new maintenance contractor Paul Wright and his organic approach to turf nutrition.

Utilising a range of products from across the Suståne portfolio, some of the greens are now 100% organic, and the remainder are not far away – with all seeing improvements in density, strength and overall plant health.

Greens transformed with Suståne programme

Following recommendations and some first-hand experience in his years spent contracting on golf courses, Paul has now been using Suståne products for six years. “I got to know Suståne’s Russell Riley and speaking with him was the final confirmation I needed that converting fully over to organic feeding was the way to go. With assistance from fellow contractor Steve Hill, I took over the maintenance of the bowling greens which had previously been undertaken by the local councils and came straight in with the organic approach.”

The programme consists of Suståne 4-6-4 slow-release fertiliser through the winter, switching to
5-2-4+Fe fine grade for late summer application to provide a quick, even green-up followed by long-lasting sources of organic nitrogen. This is supplemented with applications of Suståne’s Turf Revival
6-2-4 in the spring and Bolster humic acid bio-stimulant, blended with seaweed & iron, which is applied periodically over 10 months of the year to boost the swards tolerance to stresses – drought, salt and disease.

“Within a timeframe of just two or three seasons, you can see the effects and benefits of the organic feeds as you overcome any inherited problems. After this, and in conjunction with the regular mechanical maintenance, you end up in a situation where the sward is denser, with better rooting structure and improved resistance to disease. Because of this, and especially on those greens that are now 100% organic, we are also enjoying being herbicide and fungicide free.”

“From an application perspective” Paul adds, “it feels cleaner and better for me than spraying various chemicals all day long and in turn it’s better for any people around and the players themselves as they now return to the greens post-lockdown.” He concludes, “Being able to say you’re organic is one thing but ultimately if the products don’t deliver results, then you quickly find yourself out on your ear! With 16 contracts and counting, it’s safe to say that the effectiveness of the Suståne products speak for themselves.”

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Half Sized Blog Element (Single Author Style)

Half Sized Blog Element (Multi Author Style)

Reesink helps Royal St George’s

Greens transformed with Suståne programme

Reesink helps Royal St George’s

Greens transformed with Suståne programme

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Reesink helps Royal St George’s

Greens transformed with Suståne programme

Greens transformed with Suståne programme: 16 bowling greens across Hampshire and South Dorset have undergone a huge transformation thanks to new maintenance contractor Paul Wright and his organic approach to turf nutrition.

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